Sometimes the failure is something very simple, but not detected by the owner, such as a bent pushrod jumping out of the rocker arm, allowing that valve to remain closed. Result: a 5 cylinder engine.
Sometimes indeed. But many more of them are victims of overheating due to leaky radiators which were filled with who knows what until the water jackets were packed with what we all find when we try to clean them out. Brass radiators were difficult to repair and a new one cost a small fortune, which a farmer did not have.
Makes me think about all this talk of how its hard to find a Stovebolt head which isn't cracked. Road hard and put away wet back then, I'll bet.
